Persis Lam is a Toronto-based architect, born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Her practice is inspired by collaborative and beautiful design rooted by site and user relationships. She loves architecture for the constant strive to balance the arts and sciences and a technical approach. Beyond design, keeping projects on time and on budget is her strength, managing a variety of client, consultants and teams while maintaining project goals. 

Since joining Diamond Schmitt in 2002, Persis has a wide breadth of experience from dense urban developments such as The Hudson condominium, and the Prince Arthur Medical Clinic, to complex labs and programs at the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building at Drexel University and the Queen’s University School of Medicine. Persis is also instrumental in many multi-unit residential and student residence projects across the southern GTA. She is the project architect for the Trent University Student Residence and College in Peterborough, composed of Gidigaa Migizi College and Otonabee College with over 1500 student beds and an academic wing.  Persis has also led projects with the William Osler Health Centre and various residential developments and client types.  

Persis is a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and is a Passive House Certified Designer. She also contributes to mentorship and advocacy of the profession in spearheading the Diversity and Inclusion taskforce and the mentorship program at Diamond Schmitt and is the Vice Chair Executive of Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAToronto), an independent organization dedicated to the promotion of equality in the profession of architecture. She also promotes architectural career education and project management within the company through her project teams and office programs.